Carrier-distributing device for pneumatic-dispatch tubes



Mar. 13, 1923. 1,448,536

W. J. HEPPERLE CARRIER DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC DISPATCH TUBESFiled May 21, 1921 wveyztoz WILL/HM i HEPPEHLE 3& Gum,

Patented Mar. 13, 1923.

l tttfiw i FF i Q E earner WILLIAM J. I'IEPPERLE, OF BLOOMFIELD, NEWJERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD CARRIER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ACORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

CARRIER-DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR PNEUMATIC-DISPATCH TUBES.

Application filed May 21, 1921.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, l/VILLIAM J. HEP- PERLE,a citizen of the United States, residing at Bloomfield, in the county ofEssex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Carrier-Distributing Devices for Pneumatic- DispatchTubes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to carrier distributing devices for pneumaticdispatch systems.

The principal object of the invention is to provide carrier distributingmeans at the central station terminal of a pneumatic dispatch tube whichwill prevent an excessive accumulation of carriers at an operatorsstation by automatically diverting more than a predeterminedaccumulation to a reserve opcrators station.

The invention takes the form of a movably mounted receiving receptaclenormally arranged so that arriving carriers are re ceived in acompartment convenient to an adjacent operators station, but subject tosuch conditions of balance that the weight of a predetermined maximumnumber of carriers in the compartment will cause the receptacle to moveinto a position that will deflect arriving carriers for delivery at adifferent station. On the other hand the removal of carriers from thereceiving c0m partment again imbalances the device and causes it to moveinto normal position to again receive carriers in the receiving compartment.

In the drawing.

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a device embodying apreferredform of the invention and showing the device in its normal operatingposition.

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 showing the device in anotheroperating position.

Referring to the drawing the delivery end 1 of a pneumatic dispatch tubeis arranged to discharge carriers 2 descending therethrough into areceptacle or compartment 3 formed on one side of a pivotally mountedcarrier distributing device 4. The distributing device 4 presents atriangular formation in side elevation with the apex thereof located ashort distance below the exit end of the pneumatic tube 1. The point 5about which the distributing device 4 is capable of rocking is invertical. alinement with the Serial No. 471,312.

' will be clear.

The normal position of the distributing device 4 is that shown in Figurel of the drawing in which the apex 6' of the dis trib-uting member ispositioned to the right of the path of travel of the carriers 2 as theyemerge from the exit end' of the tube 1. The left-hand face of thedistributing device 4 takes the form of a chute which acts to direct thedescending carriers into the compartment 3 at the base of the chutewhich has already been referred to. In order to hold the distributingdevice 4 in a position to receive carriers in the compartment 3 a weightmember 7 is provided and ator can remove and take care of them thenincreasing weight provided by the accumulating carriers 1n thecompartment 3 Wlll overbalance the distributing device 4 and raise theweighted end thereof so that the apex 6 of the. device is swung to theleft in the position indicated in Figure 2 of the drawing. In thisposition of the distributing member it will be seen that the carriers 2as they emerge from the dispatch tube 1 engage a chute formed on theright-hand sloping surface of the distributing member 4 which directsthem outwardly to the right onto a traveling belt or other receivingmeans 8 which operates to convey the carriers so diverted to another orreserve operator, thereby relieving the operator incharge of carriers inthe compartment 3 and permitting the number of carriers in thatcompartment to be again reduced to a normal number which can be handledby the operator at that station. It will be clear that instead ofvariable weight members adjustable springs could be used for normallyholding the distributing device 4 in its upright position.

It will be seen that by the use of the device thus described means areprovided for :that the number of carriers in .tacle 3 which may benecessa.

automatically reventing the accumulation of an undesirable n imber ofcarriers. at a given station and giving the operator in charge of thestation an opportunity to perform her duties without ried in'theperformance of her work. This relief is given bydiverting carriersbeyond a given predetermined number from the receptacle 3 in which theyare nor nally; received to suitable conveying means which acts to removeand deliver the carriers so received at another station. Itwvill beclear the recepto tilt the distributing memberttodiverting position maybe varied by. means ofthe use of weight members 7 of different masses orweights.

Preferably the distributing ,member 4 is mounted on a suitable base 9which may conveniently-form part of thedesk ortable at which theoperators Work.

What I claim is:

1. In a carrier distributing device for pneumatic dispatch tubes,amember .having a compartment for receiving carriers-deliveredby'axdispatch tube, andmeans responsive to a predetermined weight in saidcompartment to deflect arriving. carriers away from said compartment.

2. In. a carrier distributing device for pneumatic dispatch .tubes,-'amovable receiving. member having a compartmentfor receiving carriersdelivered by the dispatch "time, said member, being movable under apredetermined weight in said compartment toldeflect arriving carriersaway from said compartment.

- 3. :Acarrier distributing device :torpneumatic dispatch tubescomprising a carrier receiving receptacle having a vertically extendingdirecting member mountedbeneath the" delivery end of the tube, saiddirecting member being .pivotally mounted so asato .ube tilted from oneside to'the other ot the exit-end of the tube,means for normally holdingthe directing member inpositionito direct carriers into the receptacle,and said receptacle and directing memberbeing so related that apredetermined carrierweight in' said receptaclewill tilt -the' directingbeing unduly hurmember to a position to divertarriving carriersfrom thereceptacle.

4:. A carrier distributing device matic dispatch tubes comprising apivotally mounted carrier receiving receptacle, an upwardly extendingdirecting member carried by said receptacle and having. its oppositesides forming carrier'directing' chutes, one of which leads into saidreceptacle, and means for normally holding said receptacle in positionfor the directing member to direct arriving carriers into saidreceptacle. a predetermined Weight of carriers in said receptacle actingto overcome said holding means and directing member receives carriers intilt the receptacle so that the the chute formed on its other face anddiverts thecarriers away from said receptacle.

5. A carrier distributing devicefor pneu- .matic dispatch tubescomprising a pivotally mounted'carrier receiving receptacle, an up-.matically 'divertingarriving carriers to an other station when apredetermined number oitcarriers has accumulated at a given station.

7.1,In a carrier distributing device for pneumatic dispatch tubes. acarrier-receiving receptacle, a carr er-directing device normally postioned to direct carriersmto said receptacle, said carrier-directingdevice being constructed and arranged to have its position changed by apredetermined weight of carr ers n said recept a'cle'whereby no fur-.ther carrier will be received" insaid receptacle until. the-weighttherein has been reduced.

WVILLIAM j J. HEPPTERLE.

for pneu-

